The Stoneham Park residential development comprises 104 sections (or lots) and is being funded using $4.16m ‘Better Off’ Funding secured by Council in December 2022. In total, $4.32m was secured for Kawerau. Of this, $4.16m was allocated for stage one of Stoneham Park Residential Development and $160,000 was used for the Eastern Bay Spatial Plan.

The aim is that the project will be self-funded and that sales of each stage, will fund the next stage of the development. 

The development of the land has taken time, partly because the land was formerly a reserve. It also took time because Council wanted to step through the consultation and engagement process thoroughly from 2021 to 2023 with the community.

Although it feels like there have been long delays, the process of completing the necessary geotechnical and planning work for resource consents does take time. The additional requirements for stormwater modelling following the extreme weather and impacts on communities around Aotearoa in the past few years have added to this timeframe, but it was important to ensure that the development was not going to impact adversely on existing neighbours.

Project milestones completed to date include:

• Completed a Reserve Swap through the Department of Conservation – which means the land is now freehold and can be sold once titles are issued for the sections.
• The land swap or exchange transferred the reserve status to what used to be the Stock Pound on Fenton Mill Road. The first stage of works to transform this into a higher value reserve has occurred. Further work and funding is required for this to developed further. 
• Kawerau’s District Plan has been changes via Plan Change 4. This enables better use of the land and a set of rules for the Stoneham Park Residential Development
• Cultural Impact Assessments and support was obtained from Tangata Whenua (see below)
• Technical Design work and work to obtain consents has been carried out in the past two years. This entails the work for the subdivision plan and also to obtain the resource consents needed for earthworks.
• What at the stormwater modelling requirements that have delayed the project? Stormwater modelling had be completed to ensure the development and the existing residents were not impacted in the event of a 1 in 100-year storm event. This has necessitated on-site storage for stormwater, and also prompted upstream storage.
• Council acknowledges the landowners of Otarahanga Farm, Ngati Tuwharetoa Holdings Limited, for their support to construct bunds on their land, which assists with the attenuation of water for Stoneham Park, and also residents in the upper-Valley Road areas.
• Tender processes have been carried out for the major workstreams including the earthworks and civils for phase two, detailed engineering design and the stormwater modelling.
• New subdivision layout (see more info and the layout below)

Yes, as part of the resource consent applications, Council as the developer, had to contact tangata whenua and engage with them to obtain Cultural Impact Assessments. This comprised on-site meetings, and providing all of the relevant documentation and details to Iwi and Tangata Whenua.

Formal Cultural Impact Assessments and support to proceed were received from Tangata Whenua Ngati Tuwharetoa (Bay of Plenty) Settlement Trust, Te Mana o Ngāti Rangitihi Trust and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa which is required by Council as part of our Te Tiriti o Waitangi statutory obligations.

The stormwater modelling has necessitated a few areas within the subdivision to store stormwater (rain as it runs off the concreted areas). In addition, there is further attenuation (storage) planned for upstream in the upper areas of the catchment.

This is in conjunction with the conditions that Bay of Plenty Regional Council have given for the resource consent.

The stormwater modelling is a theoretical exercise that plans for the worst-case in a 100 year storm event and is climate change adjusted. The tolerance for stormwater on the site under the BOPRC parameters is 15mm or less. For that reason, 10 sites will be lowered and the dwellings will be required to be on piles in the first stage. 

Bay of Plenty Regional Council have given written confirmation of their intent to approve the resource consent and we are awaiting the formal response and conditions.

In the meantime, work is progressing on the detailed design for the site earthworks and for the installation of the infrastructure (water pipes, wastewater pipes, roading and footpaths) for stage one.

NOTE: All of the following are required as part of the resource consents obtained for earthworks and the subdivision consent. The following is required to mitigate the effects on neighbours during the construction phases and entails: 

• Stabilise the site entrance for the proposed works
• Install sediment controls including silt fences, dirty and clean water diversion bunds
• Install a sediment pond on site
• Install a lined water storage pond to hold water for dust suppression
• Strip topsoil and stockpile
• Cut fill operations to achieve the desired levels of the subdivision plan
• Respread the topsoil and stabilise
• Removal of unsuitable material to an approved location
• De-commission ponds  

Yes – the design concept is that the ‘well beaten’ track or pedestrian access way will remain and become a feature of the development once it is completed. The pedestrian walkway will run adjacent to the entrance/exit road. 

During construction – Council aims to maintain a safe walkway that runs parallel from the entrance of Peter Lippa Drive through to the Fenton Mill Road pedestrian entry/exit.

We will need to have access for contractors and large machinery and equipment coming into that area also, so Council will advise that everyone takes care around that entrance during the large earthworks.

There may be times when the walkway is not safe for pedestrians to use. If that is the case, pedestrians will be required to walk to the end of Peter Lippa Drive and via Valley Road. This will be for the safety of the pedestrians.

The plan is to commence earthworks in mid-2026, and following this work, surveying and application for titles through LINZ (Land Information New Zealand) titles could be issued in late 2026, although it is likely building may begin in 2027.

The first stage of the subdivision will comprise 29 sections or lots. These will be available for pre-purchase with a deposit while the titles are being issued.

The subdivision plan has been adjusted due to the provision of stormwater storage and also to provide the best layout of the streets for the residents.

In addition, negotiations with Kowhai Park Body Corporate for the exchange of the land parcel adjacent to Stoneham Park changed, and the exchange will now include only the three waters infrastructure and the land parcel. This means, use and access of Les Martin Drive will remain private for the existing Kowhai Park residents. Access to the land parcel will be from the Peter Lippa Drive end, and this meant a change in the subdivision layout.

There is a single point of access and exit from Peter Lippa Drive, via a small low-roundabout outside the entrance, to assist with traffic flow in the area.